What is a Khalifah in Islam?

caliph, Arabic khalīfah (“successor”), in Islamic history the ruler of the Muslim community.

Who is the highest Imam in Islam?

The Grand Imam of al-Azhar (Arabic: الإمام الأكبر), also known as Grand Sheikh of al-Azhar (Arabic: شيخ الأزهر الشريف), currently Ahmed el-Tayeb, is a prestigious and a prominent official title in Egypt.

How many Khalifa are in Islam?

Four Caliphs
The Four Caliphs were the first four leaders of Islam that succeeded the Prophet Muhammad. They are sometimes called the “Rightly Guided” Caliphs because each of them learned about Islam directly from Muhammad.

Who was the first Sunni Imam?

Ali
Ali was the first of the Twelve Imams, and, in the Twelvers view, the rightful successor to Muhammad, followed by male descendants of Muhammad through his daughter Fatimah.

Do Sunnis believe in Imams?

For Sunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a worship leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Islamic worship services, serve as community leaders, and provide religious guidance. For Shia Muslims, the Imams are leaders of the Islamic community or ummah after the Prophet.

What is a khalifa in Islam?

It most commonly refers to the leader of a Caliphate, but is also used as a title among various Islamic religious groups and orders. Khalifa is sometimes also pronounced as “kalifa”. There were 4 khalifas after Prophet Mohammed died, beginning with Abu Bakr.

Who is Khalifatul Masih?

The group are traditionally shunned by the majority of Muslims. After Ahmad’s death in 1908, his first successor, Hakeem Noor-ud-Din, became the caliph of the community and assumed the title of Khalifatul Masih (Successor or Caliph of the Messiah).

How many khalifas were there after Prophet Muhammed died?

There were four khalifas after Prophet Muhammed died, beginning with Abu Bakr. This was a difficult decision for the people to make, for no one except Prophet Mohammed had ever thought with foresight about who would rule after he would die.

What is the difference between a caliph and an imam?

The Sunni branch of Islam stipulates that, as a head of the Ummah (Islamic world), a caliph was a selected or elected position. Followers of Shia Islam however, believe in an Imamate rather than a Caliphate, that is to say a caliph should be an Imam chosen by Allah from the Ahl al-Bayt (the “Family of the House”, Muhammad’s direct descendants).